Other Spain Tourism Guide - Galicia

Galicia Region Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, A Coruna Vigo Pontevedra and Lugo Tourism

Santiago de Compostela's Cathedral of St James attracts almost as much interest in Spain as Gaudi's Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. The myth, and source of Santiago de Compostela as pilgrimage site, is that the Apostel St James is buried here. The myth proved useful for a flagging Christian Spain, and Asturian King Alfonso II promptly built a church on top of the proported grave site. The stunning architectural features of this Romanesque cathedral are a feast for the eyes, with sculptures by genius Maestro Mateo. The Museo Da Cathedral is just on-site. The cathedral dominate's Santiago's centre, but there's more to Santiago including stunning squares, a choice of museums and a lively nightlife and restaurant scene, boasted by its student residents. For the history of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimate head to Museo das Peregrinacions. (see Santiago de Compostela's webguide right for details).

Galicia contains a number of bustling urban centres. To the north port city A Coruna is a centre for textiles, with a cultual heart and choice of museums (see A Coruna webugide right). In A Coruna's Museo de Bellas Artes you can expect to see work by both Goya and Rubens. A Coruna's beaches are another attraction, busy particularly in summer. More beaches are to the east of A Coruna along the Rias Altas. The beaches here are less touched by tourism - the Rias Baixas beaches pushing down towards the Portuguese coast a busier. The coast west of A Coruna - the unfortunately named Costa da Morte, so named for the huge number of ship-wrecks off this stretch, is dramatic indeed. Pushing down towards the Portuguese coast, the seaside resorts of the Rias Baixas are more familiar, with key centres O Grove and the south shore beaches of Praia de Aguieira and surfing beaches of Praia Area Longa.

Main centre Pontevedra close to the Rias Baixas beaches has a delightfully compact old town with pretty squares and a selection of museums. For more tourist information on main centre Pontevedra and the Rias Baixas beaches and attractions checkout the excellent Rias Baixas tourist webguide linked right.

South of Pontevedra on the coast sits another of Galicia's port cities, Vigo. A bustling nightlife and good arts scene are on the menu here, Top spots for art include the city's Museo de Arte Contemporanea de Vigo (see webguide right for details). Other Galicia centres include original Roman settlement Ourense. The healing waters here at Ourense still stream out of the Praza das Burgas fountains. Roman highlight in the region is Lugo's fascinating Roman Walls, with delightful and largely pedestrianised historic centre within.